The state chronicle., 1887-05-05
FAMOUS NORTH CAROLINIANS
SOME EMINENT MEN NORTH CAR.
OLINA HAS PRODUCED.
A Beautiful Memorial Tribute to John
Stan1y, of New 3erne, Written by Mr..
Castor, August Sth, 1888.

A Beautiful Memorial Tribute to John
Stanly, of New Rerne, Written by Mr..
GaStOn, August Sth, 1888.
From New Berne Sentinell
Died, on the evening of Friday, the end
Of August, 1888, John Stanly, ESQ.
Few persons in any community have oc-
cupled a more prominent station, few have
exercised more powerful influence, than
this distinguished individual for many
years held and exerted in our town and
throughout our State.
Now, then, that he is removed from US
forever, it is respectful to his memory,
and it may be salutary to those who sur
vlve, to devote a few moments to the con-
temptation of his rare endowments. his
extraordinary character and his eminent
public services
Mr.. Stanly was the eldest son of John
Wright Stanly, merchant of the greatest
enterprise and most extensive business
ever known in this State He was born
at New Berne, on the 9th of April, 1174.
and by the death of both his parents was
left an orphan when about fifteen years of
age. This calamity broke in upon his
course of academical studies, which was
never afterwards regularly resumed. He
was placed in the counting house of the
late Thomas Turner, his fathers partner.
and on his arrival at age, commenced his
career IN life as merchant.
Accidental circumstance threw him in
to association with eminent members of
the bar, particularly with the late Benia-
min Woods and Thomas Badger, Esquires,
the former of whom had been private
tutor in his fathers family, and the latter
had married his mothers sister. He had
also received from the Judges of the Dis
trict Court, the then important office of
Clerk and Master in Equity, which brought
about familiarity with the forms and
the practice of Courts of Justice The
principles of law excited his curositv:-
without any regular Instructor he began
to study them, and in the year 1893, he
was admitted to the bar, with scarcely a
fixed purpose to prosecute the law as a
profession. But he did not remain long
undecided in his course. An ardent tenn
permanent induced him to feel every clients
cause with intense sensibility, and bold
and determined spirit prompted him to
assert 1T, at all hazards.
He became interested and ged in
the practice. Gifted with wonderful quick
ness of perception, and aptitude to ac-
qulre and retain knowledge seldom
equaiied, he set himself about supplying
and by patient application he thoroughly
supplied, the defects both of his acadcm-
zeal and professional education. He stud
led diligently every cause in which he was
concerned. His intimate knowledge of
the case, and the zeal with which he de
voted himself to its support: his facility
tor bringing into action all the resources
which his library could furnish or his
rich memory supply; an admirable felicity
at illustration; an elocution of surprising
exceilence-distinct, graceful, vigorous
and commanding play of his fancy.
the keenness of his wit. the bitterness of
his invective and the overwhelming force
Of his defamation, soon rendered him a
most brilliant and successful advocate
10 these high qualifications he added that
untlrlng industry which was continually
increasing his now large stock of legal
learning and general information, and
which never disdained any necessary labor
however painful; an eXpertness at accounts
and familiar knowledge of mercantile
transactions; a clerk-like attention to all
matters Of detail, and deNterity in busi-
ness which enabled him at once and with
out effort to attend to every professional
call, and to his eXertions now to the most
trivial and now to the most important Of
engagements; at one moment 10 a petty
appeal, and in the next, to a case Dig with
life and death. It is no wonder then, that
with such endoWmcnts, such iuaifica-
tlons and such habits, be permanently
fixed himself i'll the foremost ranks OF his
profession, and was regarded by his breth-
rem and the country at large as prcemi-
rent among those who constituted its
ornament and boast.
At a very early age, Mr.. StanIy engaged
warmly III politics, and took an active
share in public duties. To these he after
| wards devoted the best Of his energies and
| no, Il Cf
fact, public interests seemed to afford to
his ardent mind, that peculiar excitement
in which he delighted and to give it that
| full employment without which it was i'll
at ease. 1t was impossible for such "a
man to enter into political contentious
| and when once entered on them. not to
| carry on the conflict to the bitter en- :
| feariessly, and at every hazard. 1t has
! been the lot Of very few men to have
| given, or to have received seyerer blows
| III such strife. to have been more siren
uousiy opposed by political foes and more
vehemently eStolIed by political friends
! But apart from these uat.dening contests
| in which no man is ever Judged corrective
and which no rational and conscientious
| man can ever remember without deep re-
| gret, it is impossible to regard Mr.. Stanly 5
| public career without high admiration.
| The best men may differ, and do differ, As
! to many OF his schemes Of pOllty, but, all
ought to admit that the purpose of his
| Legislative eXertlons We're elevated and
| noble. The prosperity of his native town,
| the honour and advancement of his native
state, the equal rights of all Glasses of
citizens, the stability and faithful eXecu-
| ton of the laws, the ,ndissolubllitv of the
marriage tie, the education of the poor,
! the suppression Of gambling, immortality
and vice, these were among the cherished
objects of his Jealous support; and long
must be remembered the eoquence. skill
and ability with which that support was
yielded. As a speaker III the Legislative
Hall, it may wei. be questioned if he ever
had superior. On every subject, and al
all times when the public good required
it, and when any of the interests Of the
State We're in danger, he was ready, al
ways ready, either with explanation fol
the candid enquirer or, with logic, wit,
and eloquence, to confront a respected
adversary; or with whitening sarcasm
and bold rebuke to awe and chastsc vul-
gaity, pertncss, Ignorance and self con
ceit. He was emphatically the terror oi
blockheads and wltling5. HIS tact in the
management of a debate resembled IN
tuition. On he instant, he shaped, adop-
ted and pursued the very course which
most effectually answered his purpose
One instance among hundreds which
occur to the memory at this moment. may
=, !.